`BA 77 700` Kentucky Bluegrass

ABSTRACT

A variety of Kentucky Bluegrass having a medium to high level of resistance to a broad spectrum of serious diseases, including leaf spot, dollar spot, rusts, and necrotic ring spot; an attractive green color throughout the growing season; good early spring greening; medium to high quality turf formation under a wide variety of environmental conditions; a moderately wide blade; and a high level of seed yielding capacity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Poa pretensis that has been designated Ba 77-700 Kentucky Bluegrass.

2. Description of Related Art

Kentucky Bluegrasses have been disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,156, issued May 9, 1972; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,186, issued May 23, 1972; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,336, issued Nov. 28, 1978; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,280, issued Sep. 6, 1988; U.S. Plant Pat. Nos. 6,537 and 6,538, issued on Jan. 17, 1989; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,585, issued Feb. 7, 1989; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,831, issued Mar. 17, 1992; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,490, issued Dec. 7, 1993; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,036, issued Jan. 3, 1995; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,209 issued Jul. 18, 1995; and pending U.S. plant pataent application Ser. No. 08/453,864, filed May 30, 1995 now U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,611, Ser. No. 08/532,995, filed Sep. 22, 1995, now U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,848 and Ser. No. 08/604,763 filed Feb. 23, 1996, as well as U.S. plant patent application Ser. No. 08/680,168, filed coextensively herewith.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

Ba 77-700 plant material was selected from an old turf area on a farmstead in Union County, Ohio. After testing and observing this variety, it was determined to be a distinct variety, and it was asexually propagated by rhizomes, tillers and disseminules.

Seed of Ba 77-700 Kentucky Bluegrass was produced first at Marysville, Ohio and later at Gervais, Oreg. This seed was used to plant turf performance evaluation trials and later seed production fields. Asexual production of Ba 77-700 by propagules (tillers and rhizomes) and by disseminules (modified caryopses produced by apomixis) has consistently produced progeny plants indistinguishable from the mother plant. The apomixis level of Ba 77-700 is approximately 95% based upon examining seedling characteristics of approximately 100 to 150 seedlings from different crop years in a growth chamber.

Ba 77-700 has a number of highly desirable characteristics including a medium to high level of resistance to Drechslera spp. that causes leaf spot, melting out and crown rot, Puccinia spp. that causes several types of rust infections, Schlerotinia homoeocarpa that causes dollar spot and Leptosphaeria korrae that causes necrotic ring spot. Ba 77-700 has an attractive leafy turf type growth habit; moderately wide leaf blades and an attractive dark green color which can be maintained throughout the entire growing season. Ba 77-700 demonstrates good early spring greening and winter color under mild winter conditions. Ba 77-700 is an overall good turfgrass performer as evidenced by medium to high scores for quality and color. Ba 77-700 has a high seed yield potential in the bluegrass seed production region of the northwestern United States.

In comparison with a number of other Kentucky Bluegrass varieties, Ba 77-700 seed is above average in length; and is average in width and rachilla length. The panicle is average in length; below average in width and whorl numbers and above average in branch numbers for both the lower and third whorls. Ba 77-700 has average size spikelets and glumes and below average number of florets. The peduncle is significantly longer and wider than many other grasses. The culm and top internode are of average length but the number of nodes on the culm are significantly lower.

Ba 77-700 has a flag leaf that is average in length, above average in width and significantly thicker than many other Kentucky Bluegrass varieties. The ligule and leaf margin hair are significantly longer and more abundant than many other Kentucky Bluegrass varieties. The vegetative leaf is average in length and width but above average in thickness. The ligule of the vegetative leaf is significantly shorter than many other grasses and the sheath color is above average.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a Ba 77-700 Kentucky Bluegrass panicle;

FIG. 2 is a Ba 77-700 Kentucky Bluegrass seed; and

FIG. 3 is a Ba 77-700 Kentucky Bluegrass plant during anthesis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

77-700 Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is perennial with creeping rhizomes forming a dense turf. When plants overwinter in the field under freezing temperatures and are then brought into the greenhouse during late winter to continue growth undisturbed by clipping under moderate temperatures (60°-80° F.), culms are erect averaging 39.7 cm in length and 2.9 nodes per culm and the uppermost internode averages 9.7 cm in length. The peduncle averages 26.9 cm in length and 0.82 mm in width. The leaf averages 4.3 cm in length, 3.7 mm in width and 0.22 mm in thickness and the ligule 1.3 mm in length. The vegetative leaf averages 18.6 cm in length, 3.8 mm in width, 0.341 mm in thickness and a ligule length of 0.21 min.

The panicle averages 77.5 mm in length, 56.1 mm in width, and 8.7 whorls. The lowest whorl averages 4.0 branches and the third whorl from the bottom of the panicle averages 3.5 branches. A spikelet in the lowest whorl averages 4.6 mm in length, 2.4 mm in width, 3.3 florets and the outer glume and inner glume average 2.7 and 3.3 mm in length, respectively. A spikelet from the third whorl from the bottom of the panicle averages 4.8 mm in length, 2.6 mm in width, 3.4 florets, and the outer glume and inner glume averages 2.8 and 3.3 mm in length, respectively.

After the seed has been conditioned, the lemma has a generally smooth keel with occasional short hairs and a few long fine hairs at the base. The conditioned seed of Ba 77-700 averages 3.05 mm in length, 0.88 mm in width, a rachilla length of 0.82 mm and an average quantity of lemma hairs. The seed count for Ba 77-700 averages approximately 1,065,922 seeds per pound.

Comparisons of Ba 77-700 with other Kentucky Bluegrass varieties in terms of seed numbers per pound are shown in Table 1 as follows:

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Seed Numbers Per Pound of Ba 77-700 and Other                    Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties at Marysville, OH                                 After Conditioning                                                                           Seeds                                                            Variety       Per Pound                                                        ______________________________________                                         Ba77-700      1,065,992                                                        Abbey         1,003,037                                                        Adelphi       1,383,976                                                        Allure        1,359,914                                                        America       1,659,824                                                        Ascot         1,039,000                                                        Baron         1,051,693                                                        Bristol       1,270,821                                                        Buckingham      978,000                                                        Cannon        1,171,000                                                        Chateau       1,300,105                                                        Coventry      1,246,200                                                        Eclipse       1,335,668                                                        Fairfax       1,250,997                                                        Georgetown    1,431,000                                                        Gnome         1,017,641                                                        Kelly           921,166                                                        Marquis       1,054,642                                                        Midnight      1,227,000                                                        Nassau        1,127,130                                                        Ram I         1,214,000                                                        Touchdown     1,211,000                                                        Victa         1,038,298                                                        Viva          1,025,586                                                        ______________________________________                                    

Ba 77-700 differs significantly morphologically from many other Kentucky Bluegrass varieties in regard to the following characteristics: (1) peduncle length and width; (2) culm nodes; (3) flag leaf thickness, ligule length and leaf margin hairs and (4) vegetative leaf ligule length.

Since environmental conditions such as soil and climate may influence morphological characteristics to some extent, comparisons of morphological characteristics of Ba 77-700 were made with other Kentucky Bluegrass varieties under like conditions and the comparisons are set forth in the following Tables 2-10:

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Seed and Rachilla Measurements and                 Lemma Hair of Ba 77-700 and Other Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties at              Marysville, OH After Conditioning                                                       Seed                                                                             Length  Width      Rachilla                                                                             Lemma*                                     Variety    mm      mm         mm    Hair                                       ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700  3.05    0.88       0.82  3.8                                        Abbey      2.97    0.89       0.80  3.8                                        Adelphi    2.70    0.84       0.65  4.4                                        Allure     2.78    0.86       0.70  4.7                                        America    2.40    0.68       0.68  2.8                                        Ascot      2.99    0.85       0.82  3.9                                        Baron      3.08    0.81       0.71  5.0                                        Bristol    2.94    0.88       0.73  4.3                                        Buckingham 3.23    0.89       0.88  4.2                                        Cannon     3.00    0.94       0.86  4.9                                        Chateau    2.81    0.86       0.71  4.5                                        Coventry   2.71    0.81       0.70  4.0                                        Eclipse    2.77    0.83       0.68  3.5                                        Fairfax    2.77    0.89       0.68  4.4                                        Georgetown 2.94    0.82       0.74  4.9                                        Gnome      2.78    0.83       0.75  4.1                                        Kelly      3.07    0.89       0.75  4.2                                        Marquis    2.97    0.87       0.83  4.7                                        Midnight   2.94    0.76       0.78  5.7                                        Nassau     3.07    0.86       0.68  3.4                                        Ram I      3.23    0.89       0.80  6.0                                        Touchdown  2.93    0.88       0.71  4.6                                        Victa      3.00    0.80       0.82  3.5                                        Viva       3.04    0.91       0.80  4.4                                        LSD (.05)  0.16    0.05       0.13  0.86                                       ______________________________________                                          *Rating Scale: 0-9; 9 = longest row of hairs                             

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Panicles, Whorl Number and Whorl                   Branches of Ba 77-279 and Other Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties in the            Greenhouse at Marysville, OH                                                                                Number of                                         Panicles                     Branches                                                           Length  Width Whorl Lowest                                                                               Third                               Variety Nodding* mm      mm    Number                                                                               Whorl Whorl                               ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700                                                                              1.2      77.5    56.1  8.7   4.0   3.5                                 Abbey   1.6      80.4    59.3  9.3   3.8   3.3                                 Adelphi 1.8      106.8   76.4  10.0  3.6   3.0                                 Allure  2.2      60.8    47.6  8.4   3.9   3.0                                 America 2.3      67.7    51.1  8.8   3.3   3.5                                 Ascot   2.4      77.1    66.0  9.2   2.3   2.1                                 Baron   2.2      92.6    71.0  10.0  3.4   2.8                                 Bristol 2.0      85.5    61.5  8.4   2.8   2.7                                 Buckingham                                                                             2.0      88.8    62.0  9.3   2.1   2.1                                 Cannon  1.1      80.2    55.3  9.8   4.1   3.9                                 Chateau 2.9      65.2    57.3  8.5   3.3   2.8                                 Coventry                                                                               2.5      64.0    54.2  8.4   3.3   2.5                                 Eclipse 1.3      89.2    74.0  10.7  3.3   2.1                                 Fairfax 1.5      67.4    46.6  8.8   3.3   3.1                                 Georgetown                                                                             1.0      80.0    57.0  7.4   2.1   2.6                                 Gnome   1.1      80.6    56.0  10.6  4.6   3.9                                 Kelly   2.0      88.0    70.2  9.8   4.6   3.7                                 Marquis 1.1      82.0    63.0  10.3  3.9   3.6                                 Midnight                                                                               2.0      75.8    48.4  7.1   2.9   3.0                                 Nassau  2.2      91.2    68.6  10.0  2.5   2.1                                 Ram I   1.3      67.7    47.0  7.3   3.0   3.2                                 Touchdown                                                                              1.1      73.1    75.0  7.6   2.1   2.3                                 Victa   1.7      74.9    58.3  10.0  4.7   3.5                                 Viva    1.6      88.8    68.4  8.8   4.3   3.7                                 LSD (.05)                                                                              0.68     7.35    8.62  0.66  0.72  0.50                                ______________________________________                                          *Rate Scale: 1-9; 9 = most nodding                                       

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Spikelets and Florets of Ba 77-700 and             Other Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, OH                                  Number of                                             Spikelet*                Florets                                               Lowest Whorl    Third Whorl  Per Spikelet                                              Length  Width   Length Width Lowest                                                                               Third                               Variety mm      mm      mm     mm    Whorl Whorl                               ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700                                                                              4.6     2.4     4.8    2.6   3.3   3.4                                 Abbey   4.4     2.2     4.5    2.2   3.0   3.0                                 Adelphi 4.6     2.2     4.8    2.2   4.4   4.4                                 Allure  4.3     2.2     4.3    2.2   3.4   3.2                                 America 4.6     2.2     4.4    2.3   4.5   4.3                                 Ascot   5.4     2.6     5.3    2.9   3.1   3.1                                 Baron   5.4     2.8     5.4    3.1   4.0   4.2                                 Bristol 4.9     2.4     5.0    2.5   4.2   4.5                                 Buckingham                                                                             5.6     3.2     5.6    3.3   4.1   4.1                                 Cannon  4.7     2.4     4.6    2.6   2.7   2.7                                 Chateau 4.4     2.4     4.4    2.4   3.4   3.5                                 Coventry                                                                               4.4     2.2     4.5    2.4   3.2   3.5                                 Eclipse 4.6     2.4     4.6    2.4   3.6   3.6                                 Fairfax 4.6     2.3     4.7    2.4   3.2   3.3                                 Georgetown                                                                             5.0     2.3     5.0    2.6   4.8   4.9                                 Gnome   4.6     2.5     4.6    2.9   3.2   3.2                                 Kelly   5.1     2.5     5.2    2.8   3.7   3.8                                 Marquis 4.3     2.2     4.4    2.3   3.1   2.9                                 Midnight                                                                               5.3     2.5     5.5    2.4   4.4   4.7                                 Nassau  4.7     2.6     4.8    3.0   4.2   4.3                                 Ram I   5.4     2.6     5.3    2.8   3.6   3.4                                 Touchdown                                                                              5.1     2.9     4.8    2.8   4.1   4.0                                 Victa   4.5     2.5     4.5    2.4   3.3   3.2                                 Viva    4.6     2.5     4.7    2.6   2.6   2.8                                 LSD (.05)                                                                              0.41    0.35    0.38   0.35  0.58  0.53                                ______________________________________                                          *Microscope measurements                                                 

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Glumes of Ba 77-700 and Other Kentucky             Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, OH                        Glume Length (mm)     Glume Hairs*                                                                       Lowest                                               Outer         Inner       Whorl                                                      Lowest  Third   Lowest                                                                               Third      In- Third Whorl                         Variety                                                                              Whorl   Whorl   Whorl Whorl Outer                                                                               ner Outer                                                                               Inner                          ______________________________________                                         Ba    2.7     2.8     3.3   3.3   2.4  2.2 1.9  2.1                            77-700                                                                         Abbey 2.7     2.7     3.1   3.1   0.6  0.9 1.0  1.0                            Adelphi                                                                              2.7     2.6     3.0   3.1   0.6  2.7 1.1  1.9                            Allure                                                                               2.6     2.7     3.0   3.0   2.5  3.0 2.5  2.5                            Am-   2.1     2.1     2.5   2.5   0.2  0.5 0.3  0.3                            erica                                                                          Ascot 3.7     3.7     4.1   4.0   2.1  3.0 2.0  2.3                            Baron 3.1     3.2     3.6   3.7   4.8  4.4 4.2  4.6                            Bristol                                                                              2.8     3.0     3.3   3.4   1.0  2.2 0.8  2.2                            Buck- 3.5     3.3     3.9   3.8   2.6  3.2 2.2  2.8                            ingham                                                                         Cannon                                                                               2.8     2.9     3.2   3.1   1.7  2.3 2.1  2.3                            Chateau                                                                              2.8     2.9     3.1   3.2   1.6  2.6 2.0  1.8                            Cov-  2.7     2.8     3.1   3.1   1.5  2.7 1.6  2.4                            entry                                                                          Eclipse                                                                              3.0     3.0     3.4   3.4   1.5  1.9 1.8  1.9                            Fairfax                                                                              2.8     2.9     3.1   3.2   2.2  2.2 2.1  3.1                            George-                                                                              2.8     2.8     3.1   3.1   1.7  2.7 1.2  2.5                            town                                                                           Gnome 2.8     2.9     3.3   3.3   1.0  1.9 1.2  1.6                            Kelly 3.0     3.1     3.4   3.5   1.3  1.5 1.1  0.8                            Marquis                                                                              2.8     2.7     3.1   3.1   0.9  1.1 1.7  1.8                            Mid-  2.6     2.6     3.0   3.1   1.8  2.8 1.0  2.4                            night                                                                          Nassau                                                                               2.6     2.7     2.9   3.0   2.1  2.6 4.2  4.4                            Ram I 2.9     3.0     3.6   3.5   1.1  2.3 0.7  1.2                            Touch-                                                                               3.3     3.3     3.8   3.8   0.7  2.1 1.1  1.4                            down                                                                           Victa 2.8     2.7     3.1   3.1   0.8  1.1 1.1  1.3                            Viva  2.8     2.8     3.2   3.1   1.7  1.3 1.3  2.0                            LSD   0.23    0.22    0.22  0.23  0.9  0.9 0.9  0.9                            (.05)                                                                          ______________________________________                                          *Ratings Scale: 0-9; 9  most hairs                                       

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Flag Leaves of Ba 77-700 and Other                 Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, OH                       Length  Width    Thickness                                                                               Leaf  Leaf                                   Variety cm      mm       mm       Angle.sup.1/                                                                         Curve.sup.2/                           ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700                                                                              4.3     3.7      0.22     2.0   4.6                                    Abbey   3.8     3.4      0.14     2.7   4.1                                    Adelphi 5.7     3.4      0.18     5.2   5.0                                    Allure  3.8     2.9      0.21     1.0   4.9                                    America 4.3     2.6      0.21     4.6   5.0                                    Ascot   4.7     3.5      0.29     2.1   4.5                                    Baron   7.0     4.2      0.15     9.2   4.4                                    Bristol 4.3     3.2      0.21     2.3   5.0                                    Buckingham                                                                             5.3     3.4      0.23     1.4   5.0                                    Cannon  4.3     3.5      0.22     1.9   5.0                                    Chateau 4.0     2.7      0.19     3.4   2.0                                    Coventry                                                                               3.7     3.0      0.14     0.7   4.3                                    Eclipse 3.9     3.2      0.19     8.7   5.0                                    Fairfax 4.3     3.2      0.20     1.0   4.9                                    Georgetown                                                                             5.7     2.8      0.22     1.9   5.0                                    Gnome   4.5     3.5      0.19     4.3   5.0                                    Kelly   4.8     4.1      0.18     3.1   4.4                                    Marquis 5.5     3.6      0.24     2.7   4.6                                    Midnight                                                                               3.8     2.6      0.19     1.1   5.0                                    Nassau  6.0     3.7      0.19     5.9   4.7                                    Ram I   3.5     3.1      0.19     1.0   4.8                                    Touchdown                                                                              4.1     2.7      0.16     3.4   4.1                                    Victa   3.9     3.7      0.27     2.1   4.6                                    Viva    4.5     3.6      0.18     5.1   4.4                                    LSD (.05)                                                                              1.0     0.4      0.02     2.5   0.4                                    ______________________________________                                          .sup.1/ Degrees from the stem                                                  .sup.2/ Rating Scale: 1-9; 1 = curves up; 5 = no curve; 9 = curves down  

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Flag Leaves (Ligule Length, Hairs on the           Leaf Margin and Ligule, and Sheath Color) of Ba 77-700 and Other               Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, OH.                             Hairs.sup.1/                                                                                   Li-                                             Variety Ligule Length (mm)                                                                          Leaf Margin                                                                              gule Sheath Color.sup.2/                        ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700                                                                              1.3          1.5       2.3  1.8                                        Abbey   1.3          0.8       1.6  0.2                                        Adelphi 1.1          1.8       1.6  0.4                                        Allure  0.8          0.4       2.3  2.0                                        America 0.6          0.4       0.7  1.9                                        Ascot   1.5          0.6       0.7  0.9                                        Baron   1.2          1.0       3.8  2.6                                        Bristol 0.6          0.4       1.9  2.0                                        Buckingham                                                                             1.2          0.5       2.1  2.0                                        Cannon  1.3          0.4       3.6  1.5                                        Chateau 0.9          1.1       3.1  0.3                                        Coventry                                                                               0.9          0.8       1.7  2.0                                        Eclipse 1.1          1.0       1.0  0.2                                        Fairfax 1.0          0.1       2.5  1.7                                        Georgetown                                                                             0.6          0.6       2.0  2.0                                        Gnome   0.8          0.9       3.2  1.5                                        Kelly   1.5          1.1       2.5  2.2                                        Marquis 0.8          0.5       3.8  1.5                                        Midnight                                                                               0.4          0.4       0.3  2.0                                        Nassua  1.1          2.6       2.4  0.8                                        Ram I   0.7          0.5       1.3  2.0                                        Touchdown                                                                              1.1          1.0       1.0  7.7                                        Victa   1.3          1.0       0.8  0.5                                        Viva    1.5          0.4       2.2  0.5                                        LSD (.05)                                                                              0.17         0.47      0.7  0.76                                       ______________________________________                                          .sup.1/ Rating Scale: 0-9; 0 = none; 9 = many                                  .sup.2/ Rating Scale: 0-9; 9 = dark purple                               

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Peduncles, Culms, Node Numbers Per                 Culm and Internode Length of Ba 77-700 and Other Kentucky Bluegrass            Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, OH                                          Peduncle Peduncle Culm         Top                                             Length   Width    Length                                                                               Nodes  Internode                               Variety cm       mm       cm    Per Culm                                                                              Length (cm)                             ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700                                                                              26.9     0.82     39.7  2.9    9.7                                     Abbey   23.2     0.65     41.3  4.1    11.0                                    Adelphi 24.5     0.66     40.0  4.0    10.4                                    Allure  17.9     0.61     28.0  3.1    7.7                                     America 16.2     0.62     31.8  3.1    11.0                                    Ascot   20.0     0.64     36.3  3.0    12.7                                    Baron   34.0     0.70     52.8  4.2    12.8                                    Bristol 22.9     0.73     43.5  4.0    12.6                                    Buckingham                                                                             24.7     0.71     44.9  3.7    13.4                                    Cannon  24.3     0.81     39.5  3.1    10.8                                    Chateau 20.7     0.61     38.9  4.4    9.9                                     Coventry                                                                               19.6     0.49     34.7  4.5    7.9                                     Eclipse 23.7     0.66     39.2  4.9    9.9                                     Fairfax 21.0     0.60     31.9  3.2    7.2                                     Georgetown                                                                             21.7     0.68     37.5  3.2    11.1                                    Gnome   19.4     0.84     35.3  3.1    9.2                                     Kelly   29.4     0.75     46.6  3.6    11.8                                    Marquis 27.1     0.83     34.1  3.4    7.8                                     Midnight                                                                               20.5     0.72     29.5  2.8    7.6                                     Nassau  25.0     0.66     36.0  3.9    7.4                                     Ram I   22.2     0.69     30.5  2.5    6.6                                     Touchdown                                                                              23.6     0.52     38.0  4.0    8.4                                     Victa   21.2     0.81     37.9  3.7    10.3                                    Viva    26.4     0.70     42.7  4.1    9.2                                     LSD (.05)                                                                              3.2      0.08     3.3   0.4    1.9                                     ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Vegetative Leaves (Length, Width, Thick-           ness, Angle and Curvature) of Ba 77-700 and Other Kentucky Bluegrass           Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, OH                                  Length       Width    Thickness  Leaf                                          Variety cm       mm       mm       Angle.sup.1/                                                                         Curve.sup.2/                          ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700                                                                              18.6     3.8      0.34     61.6  7.7                                   Abbey   20.7     3.6      0.28     51.3  7.4                                   Adelphi 19.4     3.7      0.28     67.0  4.6                                   Allure  18.1     3.5      0.30     53.0  6.2                                   America 21.4     3.1      0.32     66.0  6.4                                   Ascot   17.4     3.4      0.35     67.9  5.5                                   Baron   18.2     4.3      0.29     35.0  4.4                                   Bristol 18.2     3.7      0.32     65.5  6.9                                   Buckingham                                                                             18.9     4.5      0.36     50.9  5.0                                   Cannon  22.1     3.3      0.30     62.5  8.2                                   Chateau 23.1     3.3      0.33     39.7  5.4                                   Coventry                                                                               23.4     3.6      0.25     63.0  7.3                                   Eclipse 20.3     4.4      0.30     65.5  5.4                                   Fairfax 21.9     3.5      0.28     51.7  8.3                                   Georgetown                                                                             19.5     3.6      0.29     56.7  5.8                                   Gnome   18.2     2.9      0.29     43.2  6.6                                   Kelly   22.8     3.9      0.30     55.5  7.0                                   Marquis 19.7     3.7      0.38     46.4  7.8                                   Midnight                                                                               19.5     3.5      0.31     63.3  5.0                                   Nassau  16.3     3.7      0.29     63.2  4.9                                   Ram I   19.1     3.6      0.27     70.8  6.5                                   Touchdown                                                                              16.7     3.7      0.24     51.3  4.0                                   Victa   21.5     3.6      0.36     56.3  6.7                                   Viva    22.9     3.8      0.40     53.0  7.1                                   LSD (.05)                                                                              3.50     0.43     0.04     15.9  1.5                                   ______________________________________                                          .sup.1/ Degrees from the stem                                                  .sup.2/ Rating scale: 1-9; 1 = curves up; 5 = no curve; 9 = curves down  

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Vegetative Leaves (Ligule Length, Hairs            on the Leaf Margin and Ligule, Sheath Roughness and Color) of Ba               77-700 and Other Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at             Marysville, OH                                                                 Ligule       Hairs.sup.1/                                                              Length   Leaf     Leaf   Sheath  Sheath                                Variety mm       Ligule   Margin Roughness.sup.2/                                                                       Color.sup.3/                          ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700                                                                              0.21     3.1      2.0    7.3     1.4                                   Abbey   0.32     4.4      2.8    7.7     0.0                                   Adelphi 0.34     2.6      3.4    8.8     0.0                                   Allure  0.14     2.0      1.6    8.3     1.9                                   America 0.12     1.7      2.1    8.4     2.0                                   Ascot   0.22     1.5      2.0    8.8     0.2                                   Baron   0.33     4.6      3.6    7.4     0.4                                   Bristol 0.12     2.6      3.0    8.9     2.0                                   Buckingham                                                                             0.14     3.3      2.6    8.7     2.0                                   Cannon  0.16     3.2      0.7    8.2     2.0                                   Chateau 0.22     3.3      3.1    7.8     0.5                                   Coventry                                                                               0.32     3.1      2.4    8.1     0.3                                   Eclipse 0.38     2.8      2.6    9.0     0.2                                   Fairfax 0.14     2.7      1.4    8.1     1.7                                   Georgetown                                                                             0.14     2.5      2.4    8.5     2.0                                   Gnome   0.23     1.6      0.8    7.5     1.4                                   Kelly   0.34     4.6      2.4    8.8     0.0                                   Marquis 0.21     3.6      1.1    6.8     1.1                                   Midnight                                                                               0.10     1.3      1.6    7.7     2.0                                   Nassau  0.34     2.5      3.3    8.5     1.4                                   Ram I   0.09     1.8      2.0    7.7     2.0                                   Touchdown                                                                              0.29     1.4      1.3    7.9     8.0                                   Victa   0.26     2.3      1.7    7.9     0.1                                   Viva    0.23     5.2      4.2    8.5     0.0                                   LSD (.05)                                                                              0.04     0.79     0.70   0.89    0.57                                  ______________________________________                                          .sup.1/ Rating Scale: 0-9; 0 = none; 9 = many                                  .sup.2/ Rating Scale: 1-9; 1 = rough; 9 = smooth                               .sup.3/ Rating Scale: 0-9; 0 = no color; 9 = dark purple color           

Ba 77-700 has performed well as exhibited by medium to high turf quality ratings throughout the United Sates in comparison to other Kentucky Bluegrass varieties. Ba 77-700 has an attractive green color which can be maintained throughout the growing season.

With regard to a comparative analysis conducted for purposes of determining color of Ba 77-700 plants relative to other Kentucky Bluegrass varieties, readings were taken of the vegetative color of Ba 77-700 during mid-October while the turf was actively growing with adequate nutrient and water availability. The readings were taken in full sun with several actively growing leaves being compared, one at a time, utilizing color chips from the Munsell Book of Color as a reference. On this basis, the color of Ba 77-700 was determined to be 5 GY 4/6. During the same time period, the color of similar leaves of other Kentucky Bluegrass varieties were determined by the same procedure to be as follows: Victa -- 5 GY 4/4; Bristol -- 7.5 GY 4/4; Ascot -- 5 GY 4/4; Midnight -- 7.5 GY 4/4; Abbey -- 5 GY 4/6; and Buckingham -- 7.5 GY 4/4. However, it should be noted that the general apparent color of turf does not always correlate directly with the color of the individual actively growing leaves within the turf and that turf color varies with nutrient level and time of year with some varieties being darker or lighter green depending on such factors.

Ba 77-700 demonstrates good early spring greening and winter color in mild winter climates.

Comparisons of Ba 77-700 with other varieties for quality, genetic color, spring greening and winter color, living ground cover, leaf texture and seedling vigor are set forth hereinafter in Tables 11-17:

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Quality of Ba 77-700 and Other Kentucky Bluegrass              Varieties at Five (5) Test Locations in the U.S.                                      Locations                                                                        Fort                                                                           Collins,                                                                               Lexington,                                                                              Adelphia,                                                                             Kingston,                                                                             Beltsville,                            Variety  Co      Kentucky NJ     RI     MD                                     ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700                                                                               6.3     6.5      4.8    5.7    6.5                                    A-34     5.2     5.8      5.2    5.6    6.7                                    Abbey    6.3     6.2      4.7    5.7    6.3                                    Able I   6.3     6.9      6.2    5.8    5.9                                    Allure   5.9     5.4      4.9    5.3    6.5                                    Ascot    6.7     6.5      5.9    5.7    6.0                                    Banff    6.1     5.8      5.6    5.0    5.2                                    Baron    5.3     6.0      4.6    5.7    6.5                                    Buckingham                                                                              5.6     5.9      5.0    4.6    5.3                                    Challenger                                                                              6.1     6.6      5.4    5.2    6.6                                    Cannon   6.1     6.0      4.9    5.4    6.4                                    Classic  5.8     5.8      5.5    5.4    5.6                                    Coventry 6.1     5.6      4.7    5.0    6.6                                    Eclipse  6.6     6.5      6.3    6.1    6.8                                    Estate   5.8     4.8      5.0    5.2    6.3                                    Fairfax  5.9     5.1      5.1    5.3    6.8                                    Georgetown                                                                              5.8     5.9      5.1    5.3    5.3                                    Glade    6.1     6.4      5.1    5.8    6.7                                    Gnome    5.9     6.2      4.6    5.4    6.5                                    Haga     5.6     6.0      4.8    5.2    6.0                                    Kelly    5.9     6.1      4.5    5.2    6.4                                    Kenblue  3.7     5.0      2.4    4.9    5.4                                    Liberty  6.2     5.6      5.7    5.3    5.9                                    Marquis  6.2     6.9      4.5    5.6    6.4                                    Merion   5.1     5.9      4.0    5.4    5.7                                    Merit    6.1     6.5      4.2    5.7    6.3                                    Midnight 7.1     8.2      6.7    5.1    7.5                                    Monopoly 4.7     5.5      5.0    5.5    5.9                                    Nassau   5.8     6.5      4.7    5.2    4.9                                    Ram I    6.1     5.0      4.6    5.7    6.9                                    South Dakota                                                                            4.1     4.3      2.3    4.6    5.2                                    Touchdown                                                                               6.4     5.8      5.3    5.2    6.4                                    Viva     6.1     6.3      4.2    5.9    6.3                                    LSD (.05)                                                                               0.7     1.0      0.7    0.7    0.8                                    ______________________________________                                          Quality Rating Scale: 1-9; 9 = ideal turf                                

                  TABLE 12                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Genetic Color of Ba 77-700 and Other Kentucky Blue-            grass Varieties in Three Test (A-C) Conducted at Ten (10) Locations            in the US                                                                                 TESTS (Annual Means)                                                Variety      A            B     C                                              ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700    5.7          5.5   5.8                                            A-34         5.0          5.4   4.6                                            Abbey        5.6          5.9   5.8                                            Able I       6.6          6.8   6.8                                            Allure       5.7          5.2   5.6                                            Ascot        6.9          6.8   7.2                                            Banff        5.1          6.0   5.5                                            Baron        6.0          6.0   5.9                                            Buckingham   7.0          7.2   7.2                                            Cannon       6.0          5.7   6.4                                            Challenger   6.0          6.2   5.9                                            Classic      5.2          5.9   5.2                                            Coventry     5.9          5.6   5.8                                            Eclipse      6.3          6.6   6.4                                            Estate       5.8          5.3   5.3                                            Fairfax      6.0          5.4   5.4                                            Georgetown   5.2          6.1   5.3                                            Glade        6.7          6.3   6.7                                            Gnome        6.0          6.1   5.8                                            Haga         5.1          5.8   5.3                                            Kelly        5.6          5.7   6.1                                            Kenblue      4.6          5.0   5.3                                            Liberty      5.9          4.0   6.1                                            Marquis      6.1          6.1   6.4                                            Merion       5.7          5.8   5.4                                            Merit        5.7          5.7   6.2                                            Midnight     7.1          7.3   7.7                                            Monopoly     4.8          4.9   4.8                                            Nassau       6.0          6.6   6.5                                            Ram I        6.7          5.9   6.6                                            South Dakota 4.5          4.8   4.7                                            Touchdown    5.5          5.5   6.3                                            Viva         5.5          5.5   5.9                                            LSD (.05)    0.5          0.4   0.7                                            ______________________________________                                          Rating Scale: 1-9; 9 = dark green.                                       

                  TABLE 13                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Spring Greenup of Ba 77-700 and Other Kentucky                 Bluegrass Varieties at Martinsville, New Jersey                                Variety        Spring Greenup                                                  ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700      6.0                                                             A-34           6.0                                                             Abbey          5.3                                                             Able I         6.3                                                             Allure         4.3                                                             Ascot          3.7                                                             Banff          3.7                                                             Baron          4.0                                                             Buckingham     5.0                                                             Cannon         5.3                                                             Challenger     5.3                                                             Classic        5.3                                                             Coventry       4.3                                                             Eclipse        4.7                                                             Estate         5.0                                                             Fairfax        4.0                                                             Georgetown     4.7                                                             Glade          4.0                                                             Gnome          4.7                                                             Haga           5.7                                                             Kelly          4.0                                                             Kenblue        3.0                                                             Liberty        4.7                                                             Marquis        5.0                                                             Merion         3.7                                                             Merit          4.0                                                             Midnight       2.7                                                             Monopoly       4.7                                                             Nassau         5.3                                                             Ram I          5.0                                                             South Dakota   4.0                                                             Touchdown      5.7                                                             Viva           5.0                                                             LSD (.05)      1.8                                                             ______________________________________                                          Spring Greenup Rating Scale: 1-9; 9 = Completely green                   

                  TABLE 14                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Winter Color of Ba 77-700 and Other Kentucky                   Bluegrass Varieties in Two Tests (A-B).                                        Variety            A.sup.1/                                                                             B.sup.2/                                              ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700          5.0   5.0                                                   A-34               6.7   2.0                                                   Abbey              1.7   6.3                                                   Able I             6.3   3.3                                                   Allure             6.0   6.3                                                   Ascot              4.7   4.3                                                   Banff              9.0   3.7                                                   Baron              2.3   5.7                                                   Buckingham         5.3   6.3                                                   Cannon             2.3   6.0                                                   Challenger         7.3   4.3                                                   Classic            9.0   3.3                                                   Coventry           7.0   3.7                                                   Eclipse            4.7   3.7                                                   Estate             5.7   5.0                                                   Fairfax            6.0   4.5                                                   Georgetown         8.0   3.3                                                   Glade              1.7   3.7                                                   Gnome              1.0   5.7                                                   Haga               9.0   3.0                                                   Kelly              2.3   5.7                                                   Kenblue            1.3   3.0                                                   Liberty            7.3   3.3                                                   Marquis            2.0   5.0                                                   Merion             6.7   3.3                                                   Merit              3.7   6.0                                                   Midnight           3.0   1.7                                                   Monopoly           4.3   2.7                                                   Nassau             7.7   5.0                                                   Ram I              1.7   3.7                                                   South Dakota       2.3   4.0                                                   Touchdown          3.0   2.3                                                   Viva               2.3   4.0                                                   LSD (.05)          1.9   2.1                                                   ______________________________________                                          Winter Color Rating Scale: 1-9; 9 = Complete color retention                   .sup.1/ Location of Test A: North Brunswick, NJ                                .sup.2/ Location of Test B: Post Falls, ID                               

                  TABLE 15                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Percent Living Ground Cover in the Fall of Ba 77-700           and Other Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties at Haymarket, VA                                        % Ground                                                              Variety  Cover                                                          ______________________________________                                                Ba 77-700                                                                               70.0                                                                  A-34     30.0                                                                  Abbey    68.3                                                                  Able I   28.3                                                                  Allure   83.3                                                                  Ascot    11.7                                                                  Banff    21.7                                                                  Baron    71.0                                                                  Buckingham                                                                              30.0                                                                  Cannon   75.0                                                                  Challenger                                                                              60.0                                                                  Classic  31.7                                                                  Coventry 65.0                                                                  Eclipse  48.3                                                                  Estate   71.7                                                                  Fairfax  70.0                                                                  Georgetown                                                                              33.3                                                                  Glade    68.3                                                                  Gnome    70.0                                                                  Haga     53.3                                                                  Kelly    83.3                                                                  Kenblue  94.3                                                                  Liberty  33.3                                                                  Marquis  88.3                                                                  Merion   81.7                                                                  Merit    71.7                                                                  Midnight 38.3                                                                  Monopoly 85.0                                                                  Nassau   36.7                                                                  Ram I    65.0                                                                  South Dakota                                                                            86.0                                                                  Touchdown                                                                               33.3                                                                  Viva     85.0                                                                  LSD (.05)                                                                               29.9                                                           ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 16                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Leaf Texture of Ba 77-700 and Other Kentucky                   Bluegrass Varieties in Two Tests (A-B)                                         Variety            A.sup.1/                                                                             B.sup.2/                                              ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700          4.0   4.0                                                   Abbey              5.0   4.3                                                   Able I             5.7   6.3                                                   Allure             4.3   4.0                                                   Ascot              5.3   6.0                                                   A-34               4.3   5.2                                                   Banff              5.3   5.2                                                   Baron              5.0   4.2                                                   Buckingham         4.0   3.7                                                   Cannon             4.0   4.0                                                   Challenger         5.0   4.5                                                   Classic            5.3   5.3                                                   Coventry           5.0   4.2                                                   Eclipse            5.7   5.7                                                   Estate             4.3   3.8                                                   Fairfax            4.7   4.0                                                   Georgetown         6.0   4.8                                                   Glade              5.0   4.6                                                   Gnome              5.3   4.2                                                   Haga               5.7   5.2                                                   Kelly              4.3   4.0                                                   Kenblue            6.0   5.8                                                   Liberty            5.0   4.7                                                   Marquis            4.3   4.2                                                   Merion             4.0   4.2                                                   Merit              4.7   4.0                                                   Midnight           6.7   6.0                                                   Monopoly           5.0   4.5                                                   Nassau             5.0   4.3                                                   Ram I              5.0   4.8                                                   South Dakota       3.7   4.8                                                   Touchdown          5.3   5.8                                                   Viva               4.3   4.0                                                   LSD (.05)          0.9   0.8                                                   ______________________________________                                          Leaf Texture Rating Scale: 1-9; 9 = very fine                                  .sup.1/ Test Location: Martinsville, NJ                                        .sup.2/ Test Location: Martinsville, NJ; and pooled data from Halsey,          Hubbard and Gervais, OR                                                  

                  TABLE 17                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Seeding Vigor of Ba 77-700 and Other Kentucky                  Bluegrass Varieties at Six Locations in The U.S. and Canada.sup.1/                           Seedling                                                         Variety       Vigor (Mean)                                                     ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700     6.8                                                              A-34          6.0                                                              Abbey         6.4                                                              Able I        6.3                                                              Allure        6.2                                                              Ascot         6.2                                                              Banff         7.7                                                              Baron         6.7                                                              Buckingham    5.3                                                              Cannon        6.3                                                              Challenger    5.6                                                              Classic       7.1                                                              Coventry      6.1                                                              Eclipse       6.1                                                              Estate        6.1                                                              Fairfax       6.4                                                              Georgetown    7.0                                                              Glade         6.7                                                              Gnome         6.3                                                              Haga          7.1                                                              Kelly         6.6                                                              Kenblue       7.4                                                              Liberty       6.4                                                              Marquis       6.3                                                              Merion        2.6                                                              Merit         6.4                                                              Midnight      5.4                                                              Monopoly      7.1                                                              Nassau        6.4                                                              Ram I         6.5                                                              South Dakota  6.7                                                              Touchdown     5.8                                                              Viva          6.3                                                              LSD (.05)     0.7                                                              ______________________________________                                          Rating Scale: 1-9; 9 = Maximum vigor.                                          .sup.1/ Locations: Fort Collins, CO; Post Falls, ID; North Brunswick, NJ;      Adelphia, NJ; Richmond Hills, Ontario; pooled data from Halsey, Hubbard        and Gervais, OR.                                                         

Turf diseases are one of the major causes of inconsistent and poor turf performance. Ba 77-700 has been found to have a medium to high level of resistance to leaf spot and melting out caused by Drechslera poae (formerly called Helminthosporium vagans). Ba 77-700 furthermore has been found to have a medium to high level of resistance to dollar spot caused by Sclerotinia homoecarpa and to several rust diseases caused by Puccinia spp. as well as to necrotic ring spot caused by Leptosphaeria korrae.

Comparisons of disease incidence of Ba 77-700 as compared with other Kentucky Bluegrass varieties in regard to leaf spot, dollar spot, rusts and necrotic ring spot are presented in Tables 18-23 as follows:

                  TABLE 18                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Leaf Spot Incidence in Ba 77-700 and Other Kentucky            Bluegrass Varieties in Two Tests (A-B) Conducted at Four Locations in          the U.S.                                                                                     Means                                                            Variety         Test A.sup.1/                                                                           Test B.sup.2/                                         ______________________________________                                         Ba77-700        7.2      5.7                                                   A-34            7.2      5.4                                                   Abbey           7.8      5.1                                                   Able I          7.8      7.1                                                   Allure          7.7      5.8                                                   Ascot           8.1      7.4                                                   Banff           4.8      5.9                                                   Baron           7.1      5.4                                                   Buckingham      8.3      6.8                                                   Cannon          8.0      5.8                                                   Challenger      8.0      6.9                                                   Classic         7.8      5.4                                                   Coventry        6.8      5.8                                                   Eclipse         7.9      7.4                                                   Estate          7.9      5.9                                                   Fairfax         6.6      4.9                                                   Georgetown      8.0      6.3                                                   Glade           4.8      4.8                                                   Gnome           7.6      5.7                                                   Haga            7.2      5.9                                                   Kelly           7.2      5.1                                                   Kenblue         1.2      1.8                                                   Liberty         8.1      6.8                                                   Marquis         7.4      5.6                                                   Merion          8.0      7.3                                                   Merit           7.4      5.4                                                   Midnight        8.1      6.6                                                   Monopoly        7.1      5.2                                                   Nassau          8.2      6.2                                                   Ram I           3.4      4.9                                                   South Dakota    2.2      1.8                                                   Touchdown       7.4      6.3                                                   Viva            7.4      5.1                                                   LSD (.05)       0.9      0.7                                                   ______________________________________                                          Rating Scale: 1-9; 9 = no disease                                              .sup.1/ Locations: Post Falls, ID; North Brunswick and Adelphia, NJ            .sup.2/ Locations: Post Falls, ID; North Brunswick and Adelphia, NJ;           Marysville, OH                                                           

                  TABLE 19                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Dollar Spot Disease Incidence of Ba 77-700 and Other           Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties in Two Tests Conducted in the U.S.                              Means                                                            Variety         Test A.sup.1/                                                                           Test B.sup.2/                                         ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700       7.0      7.0                                                   A-34            6.7      6.0                                                   Abbey           6.8      6.3                                                   Able I          6.8      6.1                                                   Allure          6.4      5.3                                                   Ascot           7.8      7.0                                                   Banff           6.4      6.2                                                   Baron           6.9      6.8                                                   Buckingham      7.9      4.8                                                   Canon           6.6      6.4                                                   Challenger      6.4      4.7                                                   Classic         7.4      6.3                                                   Coventry        5.9      5.9                                                   Eclipse         7.5      7.2                                                   Estate          5.3      5.6                                                   Fairfax         5.8      6.0                                                   Georgetown      6.9      6.1                                                   Glade           7.0      6.4                                                   Gnome           6.7      6.1                                                   Haga            6.3      6.2                                                   Kelly           7.3      6.3                                                   Kenblue         6.8      6.8                                                   Liberty         7.3      6.8                                                   Marquis         6.8      6.7                                                   Merion          6.9      6.1                                                   Merit           6.8      6.7                                                   Midnight        8.0      6.6                                                   Monopoly        7.1      6.7                                                   Nassau          7.4      6.7                                                   Ram I           6.0      4.9                                                   South Dakota    7.3      5.8                                                   Touchdown       6.8      6.1                                                   Viva            7.1      6.2                                                   LSD (.05)       1.1      0.8                                                   ______________________________________                                          Rating Scale: 1-9; 9 = no disease.                                             .sup.1/ Locations: Urbana, IL; Adelphia, NJ; Kingston, RI; Haymarket, VA       .sup.2/ Locations: Urbana, IL; Silver Spring, MD; Kingston, RI           

                  TABLE 20                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Stem Rust Disease Incidence in Ba 77-700 and Other             Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties at Adelphia, NJ                                          Variety  Stem Rust                                                      ______________________________________                                                Ba 77-700                                                                               7.3                                                                   A-34     4.3                                                                   Abbey    7.0                                                                   Able I   3.3                                                                   Allure   6.3                                                                   Ascot    7.3                                                                   Banff    7.7                                                                   Baron    7.0                                                                   Buckingham                                                                              5.7                                                                   Cannon   7.3                                                                   Challenger                                                                              4.0                                                                   Classic  8.0                                                                   Coventry 6.7                                                                   Eclipse  4.0                                                                   Estate   6.3                                                                   Fairfax  6.3                                                                   Georgetown                                                                              8.7                                                                   Glade    7.7                                                                   Gnome    7.0                                                                   Haga     8.0                                                                   Kelly    8.0                                                                   Kenblue  5.7                                                                   Liberty  7.7                                                                   Marquis  6.7                                                                   Merion   1.0                                                                   Merit    6.3                                                                   Midnight 8.0                                                                   Monopoly 6.3                                                                   Nassau   8.0                                                                   Ram I    8.0                                                                   South Dakota                                                                            4.3                                                                   Touchdown                                                                               2.3                                                                   Viva     6.7                                                                   LSD (.05)                                                                               1.4                                                            ______________________________________                                          Rating Scale: 1-9; 9 = no disease                                        

                  TABLE 21                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Leaf Rust Disease Incidence in Ba 77-700 and Other             Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties at Kingston, R.I.                                        Variety  Leaf Rust                                                      ______________________________________                                                Ba 77-700                                                                               8.0                                                                   A-34     6.0                                                                   Abbey    6.3                                                                   Able I   7.0                                                                   Allure   6.0                                                                   Ascot    6.0                                                                   Banff    7.0                                                                   Baron    8.3                                                                   Buckingham                                                                              6.7                                                                   Cannon   6.3                                                                   Challenger                                                                              5.7                                                                   Classic  8.7                                                                   Coventry 7.0                                                                   Eclipse  5.7                                                                   Estate   6.3                                                                   Fairfax  6.0                                                                   Georgetown                                                                              7.7                                                                   Glade    7.0                                                                   Gnome    6.7                                                                   Haga     7.0                                                                   Kelly    5.0                                                                   Kenblue  6.7                                                                   Liberty  7.3                                                                   Marquis  6.3                                                                   Merion   2.3                                                                   Merit    6.0                                                                   Midnight 6.0                                                                   Monopoly 5.3                                                                   Nassau   7.0                                                                   Ram I    6.7                                                                   South Dakota                                                                            6.7                                                                   Touchdown                                                                               3.7                                                                   Viva     5.7                                                                   LSD (.05)                                                                               2.4                                                            ______________________________________                                          Rating Scale: 1-9; 9 = no disease.                                       

                  TABLE 22                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Stripe Rust Disease Incidence in Ba 77-700 and Other           Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties in Tests Conducted at Three                       Locations.sup.1/                                                               Variety        Stripe Rust                                                     ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700      5.0                                                             A-34           5.0                                                             Abbey          4.3                                                             Able I         6.0                                                             Allure         4.3                                                             Ascot          6.0                                                             Banff          6.0                                                             Baron          6.0                                                             Buckingham     5.7                                                             Cannon         4.7                                                             Challenger     5.3                                                             Classic        6.3                                                             Coventry       5.0                                                             Eclipse        6.0                                                             Estate         5.7                                                             Fairfax        5.7                                                             Georgetown     6.3                                                             Glade          3.0                                                             Gnome          4.7                                                             Haga           6.3                                                             Kelly          5.0                                                             Kenblue        3.3                                                             Liberty        5.3                                                             Marquis        5.3                                                             Merion         3.7                                                             Merit          5.0                                                             Midnight       4.7                                                             Monopoly       5.3                                                             Nassau         5.3                                                             Ram I          6.0                                                             South Dakota   4.0                                                             Touchdown      3.0                                                             Viva           5.0                                                             LSD (.05)      1.2                                                             ______________________________________                                          Rating Scale: 1-9; 9 = no disease                                              .sup.1/ Pooled data from Halsey, Hubbard and Gervais, Oregon.            

                  TABLE 23                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Necrotic Ring Spot Incidence in Ba 77-700 and Other            Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties at Post Falls, ID                                                 Nocrotic                                                              Variety  Ring Spot                                                      ______________________________________                                                Ba 77-700                                                                               7.3                                                                   A-34     6.0                                                                   Abbey    7.3                                                                   Able I   7.3                                                                   Allure   3.3                                                                   Ascot    8.0                                                                   Banff    7.7                                                                   Baron    7.3                                                                   Buckingham                                                                              8.7                                                                   Cannon   7.0                                                                   Challenger                                                                              8.3                                                                   Classic  6.7                                                                   Coventry 5.0                                                                   Eclipse  7.7                                                                   Estate   4.7                                                                   Fairfax  3.5                                                                   Georgetown                                                                              7.7                                                                   Glade    8.3                                                                   Gnome    7.3                                                                   Haga     7.7                                                                   Kelly    7.3                                                                   Kenblue  5.7                                                                   Liberty  6.7                                                                   Marquis  7.7                                                                   Merion   5.3                                                                   Merit    7.7                                                                   Midnight 8.3                                                                   Monopoly 6.7                                                                   Nassau   7.7                                                                   Ram I    7.0                                                                   South Dakota                                                                            7.0                                                                   Touchdown                                                                               6.3                                                                   Viva     7.7                                                                   LSD (.05)                                                                               1.9                                                            ______________________________________                                          Rating Scale: 1-9; 9 = no disease                                        

Ba 77-700 has shown good drought tolerance and seed yielding capability. Comparisons for drought tolerance and seed yields of Ba 77-700 with other Kentucky Bluegrasses are presented in Tables 24-26.

                  TABLE 24                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Drought Tolerance of Ba 77-700 and Other Kentucky              Bluegrass Varieties at Haymarket, VA                                           Variety       Drought Tolerance                                                ______________________________________                                         Ba77-700      5.3                                                              A-34          3.0                                                              Abbey         4.3                                                              Able I        3.3                                                              Allure        4.0                                                              Ascot         4.0                                                              Banff         3.3                                                              Baron         4.0                                                              Buckingham    4.0                                                              Cannon        4.0                                                              Challenger    3.3                                                              Classic       3.7                                                              Coventry      3.7                                                              Eclipse       4.3                                                              Estate        4.3                                                              Fairfax       4.3                                                              Georgetown    3.7                                                              Glade         5.0                                                              Gnome         3.7                                                              Haga          3.0                                                              Kelly         4.0                                                              Kenblue       4.0                                                              Liberty       3.0                                                              Marquis       4.7                                                              Merion        3.7                                                              Merit         4.7                                                              Midnight      3.7                                                              Monopoly      4.0                                                              Nassau        3.3                                                              Ram I         4.3                                                              South Dakota  4.0                                                              Touchdown     4.0                                                              Viva          4.7                                                              LSD (.05)     1.1                                                              ______________________________________                                          Dormancy Rating Scale: 1-9; 9 = no dormancy.                             

                  TABLE 25                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Drought Recovery of Ba 77-700 and Other Kentucky               Bluegrass Varieties in Two Tests (A-B)                                         Variety         Test A.sup.1/                                                                           Test B.sup.2/                                         ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700       4.8      3.0                                                   A-34            3.3      1.0                                                   Abbey           4.5      2.7                                                   Able I          4.3      1.3                                                   Allure          4.7      5.3                                                   Ascot           3.2      1.0                                                   Banff           3.5      1.0                                                   Baron           5.5      4.0                                                   Buckingham      2.8      2.0                                                   Cannon          4.3      2.7                                                   Challenger      3.5      3.3                                                   Classic         4.2      1.3                                                   Coventry        4.7      2.7                                                   Eclipse         3.3      2.0                                                   Estate          5.5      3.0                                                   Fairfax         5.0      3.0                                                   Georgetown      3.5      1.0                                                   Glade           4.2      2.3                                                   Gnome           4.8      2.7                                                   Haga            4.0      2.7                                                   Kelly           4.5      4.3                                                   Kenblue         4.8      4.7                                                   Liberty         4.2      1.7                                                   Marquis         4.2      4.7                                                   Merion          3.5      4.3                                                   Merit           5.7      3.7                                                   Midnight        4.5      1.0                                                   Monopoly        4.7      5.3                                                   Nassau          5.0      2.3                                                   Ram I           4.3      3.0                                                   South Dakota    3.7      3.3                                                   Touchdown       4.3      1.3                                                   Viva            4.8      3.7                                                   LSD (.05)       1.2      1.8                                                   ______________________________________                                          Drought Recovery Rating Scale: 1-9; 9 = Complete recovery                      .sup.1/ Locations: Carbondale, IL; and pooled data from Halsey, Hubbard        and Gervais, OR                                                                .sup.2/ Locations: Haymarket, VA                                         

                  TABLE 26                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Seed Yield in Pounds Per Acre of Ba 77-700 and Other           Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties in Two (2) Tests                                  Variety         Test A.sup.1/                                                                           Test B.sup.2/                                         ______________________________________                                         Ba 77-700       1495     1569                                                  Abbey           --       1549                                                  Allure          859      --                                                    Bristol         862      --                                                    Buckingham      865      748                                                   Cannon          --       1551                                                  Coventry        --       1046                                                  Fairfax         --       1159                                                  Victa           1342     --                                                    Viva            1382     1612                                                  LSD (.05)       216      160                                                   ______________________________________                                          .sup.1/ Test Location: Gervais, OR                                             .sup.2/ Test Location: La Grande, OR                                      

What is claimed is:
 1. A variety of Kentucky Bluegrass plant, substantially as shown and described, characterized by a medium to high level of resistance to leaf spot, dollar spot, rusts, and necrotic ring spot; an attractive green color throughout the growing season; good early spring greening; medium to high quality turf formation under a wide variety of environmental conditions; a moderately wide blade; and a high level of seed yielding capacity. 